Parliament Question: Postal services for pilgrims in Puri

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 24 ANSWERED ON 29TH JANUARY, 2026 POSTAL SERVICES FOR PILGRIMS IN PURI 24 SHRI SUBHASISH KHUNTIA: Will the Minister of Communications be pleased to state: (a) whether special postal arrangements are made in Puri during Rath Yatra; (b) the number of post offices and postal service centres operating in that district; (c) the steps taken to modernise postal services in the pilgrim town; (d) the facilities provided for parcel and souvenir dispatch by pilgrims; and (e) whether any new postal infrastructure is proposed there? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR) (a) Yes, Sir. A help desk is setup at Bada Danda during the Rath Yatra Festival. (b) In Puri district, 286 post offices are functioning for providing all postal services. (c) All the post offices functioning in Puri Town/District have been computerized and migrated to the Advance Postal Technology (APT) 2.0 platform for providing efficient postal services. (d) The facilities provided for parcel and souvenir dispatch by pilgrims include a dedicated Parcel Packaging Unit (PPU), a centralized pick-up facility and extended booking hours for parcels on weekdays and on Sundays at Puri head post office. Parcel booking counters are also provided at Puri head post office, Puri Station Road MDG, and other Town sub post offices. (e) Yes, Sir. For the financial year 2025-26, funds have been allotted to the Puri Postal Division for upgrading Branch Post Offices by providing new equipment, installation of new letter boxes, signages and embedding of cash chests. ***** 1